Stories by Nicole Cardos
New Book Explores How a Showman Saved Premature Babies
| Nicole Cardos
A new book tells the story of how a showman saved thousands of premature babies in the early 20th century.
Top Cook County Leaders Eyeing Chicago Mayor’s Race
| Amanda Vinicky
As Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle presided over a regularly scheduled board meeting Tuesday, loyalists were beginning to circulate petitions to nominate Preckwinkle for Chicago mayor.
Lincoln Park Zoo Celebrates its 150th Anniversary
| Paul Caine
The zoo began with a gift of two pairs of swans from New York's Central Park, and has evolved into a world-class facility that now puts science and conservation at the heart of its mission.
Shattered Globe’s Piercing Dramatization of a Dostoyevsky Classic Soars
| Hedy Weiss
The haunting dramatization of “Crime and Punishment” now on stage attacks the work with the same fire and attention to moral argument as the master writer, Fyodor Dostoyevsky, himself.
Country’s Only Mosaic School Pieces Together New Home in Edgewater
| Eddie Arruza
One of the oldest forms of art is still practiced throughout the world, but there is only one school in the United States where it’s taught. We go for a visit.
UIC Cutting Men’s and Women’s Gymnastics Teams
| Kristen Thometz
After a 70-year run that has resulted in multiple NCAA championship titles, the gymnastics program at the University of Illinois at Chicago will cease to exist once its current season wraps up.
With Emanuel Out, Who’s In? The Wide-Open Race for Chicago Mayor
| Amanda Vinicky
It’s been nearly a week since Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel made the shocking announcement that he won’t run for a third term. We survey the political landscape.
Is Emanuel’s $10B Bond Borrowing Plan the Right Pension Fix?
| Evan Garcia
Mayor Rahm Emanuel has floated the idea of selling more than $10 billion in pension obligation bonds. We dig into the idea.
Jury Selection Strategy: What Prosecutors, Defense Look For in Jurors
| Nicole Cardos
With five jurors now seated on the Jason Van Dyke trial, there are another seven spots to fill. A look at the strategy behind jury selection with the founder of a jury consulting firm.
Van Dyke Case: First Jurors Selected as Murder Trial Gets Underway
| Matt Masterson
Several potential jurors were excused Monday, but attorneys did select five jurors – three women and two men – in the high-profile murder case. Jury selection could last more than a week.
‘America to Me’ a Story of High School in Black and White
| Marc Vitali
A conversation with “Hoop Dreams” director Steve James, who tackles an ambitious series about racial disparity in a Chicago-area high school.
‘Radio Golf’ Revival Tunes in to Hidden Wealth of August Wilson’s Final Play
| Hedy Weiss
A revelatory, brilliantly acted revival of August Wilson’s play is currently on stage at Court Theatre, under the direction of Ron OJ Parson.
Rare Blind Salamanders Debut at Brookfield Zoo
| Alex Ruppenthal
The completely blind amphibians, found in Texas, are a translucent white color with bright red gills. Brookfield Zoo is one of just three North American institutions to host the rare creatures.
Chicago Becomes LEED-Certified for Green Building Initiatives
| Alex Ruppenthal
Chicago has become the seventh city in the world to receive top-level certification for its sustainability efforts focused on green buildings.
Van Dyke Case: Defense Asks Judge to Toss Jury Pool Because of Protests
| Matt Masterson
Attorneys for the Chicago police officer charged with murder have asked for the entire 200-person jury pool to be stricken due to their exposure to protesters carrying signs urging them to “convict Jason Van Dyke.”
Mysterious Box of Photographs Inspires a Globe-Trotting Art Show
| Marc Vitali
East meets West in an art show that began with a collection of photos found at an estate sale 27 years ago.
Anxious About Exclamation Points? You’re Not Alone
| Nicole Cardos
The Wall Street Journal recently examined email and text anxiety caused by the “tyranny of the exclamation point.” We discuss the punctuation phenomenon.
CDC Issues New Guidelines to Diagnose, Treat Youth Concussions
| Kristen Thometz
New guidelines recommend youth who have experienced a concussion return to non-sports activities sooner than previously advised because it can aid in the recovery process.
Obama Takes Aim at Trump, Republican Party Elites
| Amanda Vinicky
In a fervid speech, former President Barack Obama accuses his successor and GOP elites of appealing to tribalism and fear “because it helps them maintain the status quo and keep their power and their privilege.”
The Week in Review: Mayor Emanuel Won’t Seek 3rd Term
| Evan Garcia
A shocker from Mayor Rahm Emanuel as a flood of candidates consider a run. The mayor leaves plenty of unfinished business for his successor while Jason Van Dyke’s murder trial gets underway.
Web Extra, The Week in Review: Catholic Church Controversy
| Evan Garcia
Reporter Mary Ann Ahern describes some of the backlash she received from Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich in response to a NBC 5 Chicago segment.
Bag Tax Study: Use of Disposable Bags Down But Still Above 50 Percent
| Alex Ruppenthal
Chicago’s bag tax has resulted in a decrease in the use of disposable bags since taking effect early last year, but a majority of shoppers still use at least one disposable bag per trip, a new study shows.
Chicago Police to Document When They Point a Gun
| Amanda Vinicky
The city and state reach agreement on a plan to track instances in which Chicago police officers point a gun at someone. But not everyone’s happy about it.
Aldermen Discuss Priorities for Mayor’s Next 9 Months
| Nicole Cardos
Now that the mayor is out of the race, Chicago aldermen talk about what that could mean for the coming months – and beyond.
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